Australia secured a tense victory over England at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, successfully retaining the Ashes urn after taking an unassailable 3-0 series lead. The win sparked jubilant scenes on the pitch, headlined by a heartwarming family moment for captain Pat Cummins.
Starc Stars as Australia Seal Series
Despite a spirited fightback from England, who were chasing a formidable target of 435 runs, the Australian bowling attack held firm. The hero with the ball was once again Mitchell Starc, whose three crucial wickets broke key partnerships. His dismissal of the dangerous Jamie Smith for 60, followed by Will Jacks for 47, turned the tide decisively in Australia's favour.
It was Scott Boland who applied the finishing touch, taking the final wicket of Josh Tongue for just one run to send his teammates into wild celebrations. The victory extends England's wait for a Test win on Australian soil to 14 years and marks the tenth consecutive series where Australia has held the Ashes.
A Captain's Family Moment
Amid the team's celebrations, skipper Pat Cummins shared a poignant personal moment. He returned to the outfield to be greeted by his wife, Becky, and their two young children, Albie and baby Edie. The Australian captain was seen embracing his wife before enjoying a playful kick-about and giving his son a piggyback ride around the hallowed turf.
Becky Cummins paid a subtle tribute to her husband, painting the number 423 on her nails—a reference to Pat being the 423rd player to represent Australia in Test cricket. She shared the image on Instagram with the caption ‘Forever @PatCummins.’
Injury Clouds Loom Over Celebrations
The triumph was tempered by significant injury concerns for the Australian camp. Captain Cummins, who bowled 34 overs and took six wickets in the match despite a pre-existing back issue, cast doubt on his participation in the remaining Tests. "I doubt I'll be playing Melbourne," he stated, expressing caution about aggravating the lumbar injury that sidelined him for the first two matches.
Further worry came with spinner Nathan Lyon leaving the field with a suspected hamstring injury after overstretching to save a boundary. He was later seen on crutches, with Cummins admitting, "It doesn't look great." Lyon's potential absence is a major blow, with Cummins describing him as "pretty close to irreplaceable."
England captain Ben Stokes was left to rue another missed opportunity Down Under. "It obviously sucks," he said of the series defeat. "Knowing now that we can't achieve what we set out to do here is obviously incredibly disappointing." He vowed his team would continue to fight hard in the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, stating there was still "a hell of a lot to play for."
